Experience Criteria
FLAT RACING
(I)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Fair Racing Officials are:
(IV)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Flat Racing Stewards are:
(I)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Fair Racing Officials are:
*Note: Days worked as a Judge to meet the minimum requirements under section III can be counted toward the 50 days required to achieve Accredited Harness Racing Judge status.
(IV)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Harness Racing Judges are:
The USTA will continue to license other officials and offer educational programs for these officials. Officials who wish to qualify for accreditation as stewards/judges must hold a valid USTA officials license thereby meeting all licensing requirements of the USTA in order to qualify for accreditation as a steward/judge.
Candidates for presiding steward/judge must have at least 150 days of experience as an associate judge as defined by the United States Trotting Association (USTA).
Candidates for associate steward/judge must have at least 150 days of experience as a licensed racing official as defined by the USTA (i.e.; racing secretary,identifer, clerk of course,program director, patrol judge, paddock judge or other racing official as determined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program).
NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION:
(I)The minimum experience qualifications for NSA Accredited Racing Officials are:
(II)The minimum qualifications for NSA Accredited Stewards are:
(III)The minimum qualifications for NSA Senior Stewards* are:
*This is the most experienced level of accreditation. This position is designated by NSA Steward Advisory Board yearly.
(I)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Fair Racing Officials are:
- Experience at a Flat Racing Fair meet as a licensed racing official as defined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, (i.e., racing secretary, director of racing, assistant racing secretary, horse identifier, patrol judge, paddock judge, clerk of scales, starter, placing judge, official/regulatory veterinarian or other racing official as designated by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program) for an average of 10 days per year for at least three years.
- Experience at a Flat Racing Fair meet as a licensed Steward for an average of 10 days per year for at least three years.
- (a) At least 225 race days, within 10 years, of experience as a licensed racing official as defined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, (i.e., steward, racing secretary, director of racing, assistant racing secretary, horse identifier, patrol judge, paddock judge, clerk of scales, starter, placing judge, official/regulatory veterinarian or other racing official as designated by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program). Graduates of the University of Louisville or University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in the Racetrack/Equine Industry Program shall receive credit for 100 days of experience and thus must complete only 125 additional days as a licensed racing official within 10 years. Participants in the ROAP Internship Program shall receive credit for up to 56 days of the internship program; or
- (b) Experience in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry as a licensed trainer or jockey for (i) 5 years (average 200 starts per year for jockeys and 100 for trainers) and 150 days experience as a racing official; or (ii) 10 years (same starts requirements) and 100 days experience as a racing official; or (iii) 15 or more years (same starts requirements)and 50 days experience as a racing official or completion of Stewards or Judges Internship Program; or
- (c) Presently employed as a Steward/Judge for a length of time in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program to meet the requirements above; or
- (d) Experience in the horse racing industry of a character and for a length of time sufficient, in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, to meet the requirements above.
(IV)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Flat Racing Stewards are:
- Has met the experience requirements to be an Accredited Flat Racing Official (a, b, c or d); and
- Has worked at least 50 racing days as a Steward during the past three years and all continuing education requirements are current.
- Has met the experience requirements to be an Accredited Flat Racing Official (a, b, c or d); and
- Has at least five years experience and 200 racing days as a Steward and all continuing education requirements are current.
(I)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Fair Racing Officials are:
- Experience at a Harness Racing Fair meet as a licensed racing official as defined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, (i.e., clerk of course, charter, program director, starter, official/regulatory veterinarian or other racing official as designated by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program) for an average of 10 days per year for at least three years.
- Experience at a Harness Racing Fair meet as a licensed Judge for an average of 10 days per year for at least three years.
- (a) At least 225 days, within 10 years, of experience as a licensed racing official as defined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, (i.e., judge, racing secretary, director of racing, assistant racing secretary, horse identifier,patrol judge,paddock judge,clerk of course, charter, program director,starter,official/regulatory veterinarian or other racing official as designated by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program). Graduates of the University of Louisville or University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in the Racetrack/Equine Industry Program shall receive credit for 100 days of experience and thus must complete only 125 additional days as a licensed racing official within 10 years. Participants in the ROAP Internship Program shall receive credit for up to 56 days of the internship program; or
- (b) Experience in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry as a licensed trainer or driver for (i) 5 years (average 200 starts per year for drivers and 100 for trainers) and 150 days experience as a racing official; or (ii) 10 years (same starts requirements) and 100 days experience as a racing official; or (iii) 15 or more years (same starts requirements) and 50 days experience as a racing official; and completion of Stewards or Judges Internship Program; or
- (c) Presently employed as a Judge for the length of time in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program to meet the requirements above; or
- (d) Experience in the pari-mutuel racing industry of a character and for a length of time sufficient, in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, to meet the requirements listed.
*Note: Days worked as a Judge to meet the minimum requirements under section III can be counted toward the 50 days required to achieve Accredited Harness Racing Judge status.
(IV)The minimum experience qualifications for Accredited Harness Racing Judges are:
- Has met the experience requirements to be an Accredited Harness Racing Official (a, b, c or d); and
- Has worked at least 50 racing days as a Judge during the past three years and all continuing education requirements are current.
- Has met the experience requirements to be an Accredited Harness Racing Official (a, b, or c); and
- Has at least five years experience and 200 racing days as an Accredited Judge and all continuing education requirements are current.
The USTA will continue to license other officials and offer educational programs for these officials. Officials who wish to qualify for accreditation as stewards/judges must hold a valid USTA officials license thereby meeting all licensing requirements of the USTA in order to qualify for accreditation as a steward/judge.
Candidates for presiding steward/judge must have at least 150 days of experience as an associate judge as defined by the United States Trotting Association (USTA).
Candidates for associate steward/judge must have at least 150 days of experience as a licensed racing official as defined by the USTA (i.e.; racing secretary,identifer, clerk of course,program director, patrol judge, paddock judge or other racing official as determined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program).
NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION:
(I)The minimum experience qualifications for NSA Accredited Racing Officials are:
- Has passed all of the required exams, observed for at least three meets in the Stewards’ Stand and all continuing education requirements are current.
(II)The minimum qualifications for NSA Accredited Stewards are:
- Has met the experience requirements to be an NSA Accredited Racing Official, has worked a minimum of 3 NSA race meets as a Steward and all continuing education requirements are current.
(III)The minimum qualifications for NSA Senior Stewards* are:
- Has at least 3 years of experience, have worked a total of 12 racing days as an NSA Accredited Steward , and all continuing education requirements are current.
- All NSA Senior Stewards will also be accredited as a Flat Racing Steward
*This is the most experienced level of accreditation. This position is designated by NSA Steward Advisory Board yearly.